City of Bratislava International Relations
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CITY OF BRATISLAVA INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS City of Bratislava International Relations Department Primacialne namestie 1 814 99 Bratislava E-mail: [email protected] CONTENTS In the Europe of Cities and Regions 3 Introduction 4 Overview of Bratislava’s International Relations 5 Bilateral Cooperation 6 Bratislava – Vienna Strategic Partnership 6 Relations with the Capitals of Central Europe 10 Prague Budapest Warsaw Other Bilateral Relations with Selected Metropolises 12 Ljubljana Dublin Brno Riga, Tallinn, Vilnius Other Partners Export of Know How 15 Multilateral Cooperation 17 Bratislava in EU Structures 17 Cross-Border Cooperation 18 EU Cross-Border Cooperation Programme CENTROPE International Organisations and Initiatives 22 General International Organisations and Initiatives 22 Specialised International Organisations and Initiatives 23 International projects 23 Foreign Marketing 25 City Brand 25 Foreign Marketing Focus 28 Formal Receptions 31 Conclusion 34 IN THE EUROPE OF CITIES AND REGIONS Bratislava continues to be one of the youngest capitals of Europe. At the same time, however, it draws on a rich and famous tradition reaching back as many as two thousand years. Due to this as well, Bratislava has nearly the same historical foundation as several other major cities of Europe. Today, it is a CITY OF BRATISLAVA : INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS : INTERNATIONAL CITY OF BRATISLAVA member of a mature family of 27 metropolises of the new, expanded Europe and, jointly with its neig- hbours, contributes to creating a metropolitan Euroregion which has all the prerequisites to become one of the most dynamic areas of European cooperation and development within the next 15 to 20 years. It would be diffi cult to fi nd another similar place in Europe whose history has involved so frequent changes of political, ethnic, social, as well as urban design system, as has that of Bratislava. Bratislava, less than 60 km from Vienna, was artifi cially and forcibly severed from European evolution, progress, and general developments, which it had been naturally contributing to and drawing from for centuries, for over 40 years until 1989. Andrej Ďurkovský Lord Mayor of Bratislava Also thanks to this historical experience, Bratislava will be an important partner in creating cooperation of cities in the new Europe. The role of international cooperation among cities and regions in the expanded Europe will be indispensable. The new Europe will be a Europe of cities and regions. Since the medieval times, cities were islands of free economy, free thinking and deep faith. For Bratislava, the crucial issue is the further integration within the region. The metropolitan region of Vienna/Bratislava is one of the areas with the most dynamic potential of further development. Thanks to open borders and dynamic cooperation, we got into a prestigious situation of being able to help others. Bratislava is striving to export know how through bilateral cooperation with cities, inclu- ding outside of the European Union. The priorities of Bratislava’s foreign policy include economic profi tability, support to education and science, and eff ort of social and political stability. I am convinced that such fruits of international cooperation will be enjoyed not only by the inhabitants of this region but by all Europeans. 2 3 OVERVIEW OF BRATISLAVA’S INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS The capital of the Slovak Republic, Bratislava, is open to any kind of cooperation at bilateral or multilateral levels, in the form of expert exchange of experience as well as at an offi cial level of formal contacts. However, this cooperation must proceed in a systematic manner, on the basis of the given relation’s added value. Only an effi cient foreign policy of the city can contribute to the INTRODUCTION promotion of the city’s reputation abroad. RELATIONS : INTERNATIONAL CITY OF BRATISLAVA Bratislava, in an eff ort of operating as effi ciently as possible in the sphere of international relations, bases the implementation of its foreign policy primarily on the geographic location and economic potential. At the same time, however, the balance between the city’s growth potential The foreign policy of the capital of the Slovak Republic, Bratislava, refl ects its position in and its sustainable use is taken into account, which should be the essential aspect of current and the international political, cultural, social, and economic area where it defi nes its interests with future activities. reference to the interests of its citizens with the objective of achieving the best possible quality of Currently, city’s foreign relations are implemented at the bilateral level – the cooperation their life and promoting the reputation of Bratislava as the capital of the Slovak Republic abroad. with partner cities, as well as at the multilateral level – the membership in international organisati- This can be indicated as the main strategic objective. ons and networks of cities. In addition to these two priority axes, there is the protocol level which Bratislava’s economic potential, geographic location and openness are a promise of fur- provides for offi cial representation contacts of the Lord Mayor and management of the capital in the ther intensive development in this direction whose natural consequence is an intensifi cation of foreign policy area. In addition to the above, the practical implementation of international activities city’s activities in international networks through inter-city and regional cooperation at bilateral and operation of the city on the international scene includes the operation of foreign marketing that and multilateral levels. employs targeted promotion to create good reputation of the capital abroad. Bratislava is well placed for a purposeful involvement in the European system of cities whose development should consist in joint programming and coordination of activities. What is important in this respect is not only the programme developing relations with European Union’s capitals and partner cities with a shared vision but also with metropolises that can benefi t from the experience gained in the processes of economic environment transformation, decentralisation of public administration, and introduction of the new currency. The following text represents a brief overview of international relations of the capital of the Slovak Republic, Bratislava, focusing on the period of the last two years. A comprehensive description of the city’s foreign policy is provided in the Overview of International Activities of the Capital of the Slovak Republic, Bratislava, in 2007 – 2008 with an Outlook for 2010, which is avai- lable on the offi cial website of the city at www.bratislava.sk. 4 5 BILATERAL COOPERATION A new tendency in Bratislava’s bilateral foreign relations In the period of the last two years, the cooperation with is their gradual systematisation and effi ciency improvement with Vienna was the most active cooperation among bilateral relati- the primary role being played by the added value of such coope- ons. Mutual cooperation was implemented in the form of specifi c ration regardless of whether or not the given partner relation- working meetings, conferences, cultural, social and sport events, ship is built on a contractual basis. as well as in the form of cooperation in cross-border projects. The joining of the EU substantially infl uenced Bratisla- However, the existing cooperation undoubtedly culmi- va’s bilateral orientation with an increasing focus on relations nated in 2008 – in the Bratislava – Vienna Twin City Year, which RELATIONS : INTERNATIONAL CITY OF BRATISLAVA with capitals of the European Union. However, these continue to meant not only the basis of a new level of both cities’ mutual re- be dominated by contacts with those capitals that are connec- lations but gave the bilateral cooperation with Vienna a specifi c ted with Bratislava through traditional historical or geographic position within the structure of city’s bilateral relations. aspects. These include the closest partners such as Prague, Vien- The declared connection of Bratislava – Vienna Twin na, Budapest, Warsaw, etc. City is an evidence of the trend of rationalisation in cities’ partner relationships without a contractual basis and expresses the con- BRATISLAVA – VIENNA STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP cept of joint development and utilisation of the possibilities of this conurbation and the entire region. The area of the Bratislava The international cooperation between the cities of – Vienna conurbation is apparently one of the regions with the Bratislava and Vienna is a clear example of present trends and best prospects, this being due to the potential available to it: their positive impacts in unifying Europe. As national borders Territorial potential: gradually cease to exist, the integration of local economies un- Two closest capitals of the EU (60 km apart) being on the inter- derlines the importance of cross-border cooperation. After the face of two EU accession groups borders opened in 1989, both cities, with respective annual GDP Development potential: growths higher than the rest of the country, naturally started to Per capita GDP in both cities are high above the averages of benefi t from geographic vicinity and this development proved the respective countries advantageous for both sides. The joining of the EU in 2004 eli- Potential of educational basis and state-of-the-art research minated further obstacles to cooperation and projects fi nanced – concentration of universities; Vienna: developed science